US President Donald Trump has said he would not rule out the possibility of war with Venezuela, intensifying speculation that Washington may be edging toward a direct confrontation with the South American country and its leader, Nicolás Maduro.
In an interview with NBC News on Friday, December 19, Trump was asked whether a full-scale conflict with Venezuela was possible. “I don’t rule it out, no,” he replied.
His remarks come amid rising tensions following an order to significantly increase US naval presence in the Caribbean. The move followed the seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker by US forces and the blockade of other vessels linked to Caracas.
The latest developments build on months of US operations targeting boats in nearby waters that Washington claims were involved in drug trafficking. Those actions have reportedly resulted in dozens of deaths and attracted international attention.
The White House has accused the Maduro administration of using what it calls “stolen” oil revenues to sustain a dictatorship and of facilitating the movement of illegal drugs into the United States through criminal networks.
Maduro has strongly denied the allegations, arguing that US actions are part of a broader effort to topple his government and take control of Venezuela’s vast oil wealth.
During the NBC interview, Trump avoided directly stating whether he intends to remove Maduro from office, saying only: “He knows exactly what I want. He knows better than anybody.”
Trump also renewed his warning that additional Venezuelan oil tankers could be seized near the country’s territorial waters. “If they’re foolish enough to be sailing along, they’ll be sailing along back into one of our harbours,” he said.
Venezuela possesses the world’s largest proven oil reserves, but production has dropped sharply in recent years due to underinvestment, deteriorating infrastructure and the effects of international sanctions.
Sanctions imposed by the United States, the European Union and other countries—particularly after the violent suppression of protests in the 2010s—have crippled Venezuela’s oil industry and broader economy.
As a result, most of the country’s crude exports are now sent to China, a shift that US officials view with concern amid Washington’s strategic rivalry with Beijing.
Analysts suggest Trump may see Venezuela’s growing ties with China and Russia as a geopolitical challenge, especially given the nation’s natural resource wealth.
“The idea that you have this country, with oil, minerals and rare earths in our hemisphere, and its main allies are China and Russia, doesn’t really align with Trump’s worldview,” said David Smilde, a Venezuela expert at Tulane University.
Despite the pressure, Venezuelan authorities have struck a defiant tone, insisting that US threats and blockades will not disrupt their oil exports or force political change.
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